The clarion. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1883-1888, 1887-08-10
STEALING FIG TREE CUTTINGS.


Adventures of an Enterprising California
Nurseryman in smyrna.
The latter part of April C. w. West,
of the Fancher Creek nursery, returned
from years trip to Europe and Asia
Minor, which was made for the purpose
of securing the most valuable trees and
plants of the fruit growing sections of
the old world, and also to acquire infor-
nation concerning the methods of plant
ing, cultivation, curing and packing
fruits i'll vogue there. Mr.. Vests trip
was remarkably successful. He not only
carefully studied the European methods
of horticulture and vine growing, and
thereby gained much useful knowledge,
but he succeeded in securing more val
liable varieties of trees than he had sup
posed would be possible, among theE2
being cuttings of the true Smyrna fig.
Mr.. West first visited his former home
at Brighton, England. He inspected the
principal nurseries there and made quite
an extensive collection new to California.
Thence he went to the island of Malta,
and made a large collection OF plants
and seeds. The climate of this island is
very similar to that of California. From
this place he went to Egypt. At Alex
andria several varieties of dates, etc,
were secured. From Cairo and other
points of interest in Egypt Mr.. West
went to Smyrna, where over three months
were spent in active investigation of the
horticulture of that marvelously fruitful
land. Upon his first trip into the interior
the celebrated figs of Smyrna We're Just
beginning to ripen. A number of the
principal fig growing districts were visited
and a thorough examination made of the
method of cultivation and manner of
handling the crops. The olive orchards
also came in for a share of attention.
After two weeks soiourn i'll the coun-
try Mr.. West returned to Smyrna and
spent about seven weeks in the packing
house, studying the methods employed
in packing fruits for market During
his first trip in the interior he had care
fully marked the fruit laden trees from
which he wished to secure cuttings, and
returning in November he took from
trees previously marked 1000 cuttings
of the Smyrna fig of commerce, grown
in the Erbelie district; and also about
5000 wild or male figs, and 5000 of
choice varieties of table figs On this
trip the curing and packing of Sultana
raisins, then in progress, was carefully
studied.
AS soon as the authorities discovered
that the object of Dir. West was to Sc
cure cuttings of the fig of commerce,
they issued printed orders that no cut
tings from this fig should be permitted
to cross the borders of the country But
Mr. West was not to be thwarted in the
principal object of his trip by official or
ders, and hastily packing his cuttings in
sacks he Struggled them on board ship
in the night time and there packed them
for shipment. 1t was bold move and
met with complete success. This enter
prise is by no means small one to be
undertaken and carried out by one nur-
sery. Something of the extent of its
cost may be judged from the fact that
the cuttings of the Smyrna fig alone cost
over $500, exclusive of brides and pres
ents to those who assisted in procuring
them. 1t is something no other nursery
in this state has ever attempted to ac-
complish. Republican.